For many students, success seems to follow a familiar path: doing well in school, getting a college degree, getting a high-paying job and climbing the corporate ladder. Nikhil Kamath took a very different approach. A school dropout who went out to find ZerodhaIndia’s largest retail company, Kamath became one of the country’s youngest billionaires without a formal education degree. However, even though he built a fortune before he turned 40, he says one of his biggest lessons didn’t come from business, investing or entrepreneurship. It came from reading a book.
A book that changed the way he looked at life
At the age of 34, Kamath read Defying DeathPulitzer Prize-winning work by Ernest Becker. This book explores an uncomfortable but universal concept: most human desires are shaped by our awareness that life is finite. After he finished, Kamath did a little reading. Based on the length of a person’s life, he estimated that he lived for approx He has 36 years left to live. It was not a financial transaction or financial statement. It was a reminder that time—not money—is the scarcest commodity we have. The concept changed the way they view success, decisions and priorities. For someone who spent years analyzing markets, it was a lesson in understanding life instead of numbers.
Five books that changed his mind
Kamath often talks about the books that influenced his thinking, saying that reading helped him understand people better than writing well. Some of his instructions are The Psychology of Money in Morgan Houselwhich explains that financial success depends less on intelligence and more on behavior. Patience, discipline and control of the mind, it says, are more important than trying to predict the market. Other ideas are Silence Is The Keyto Ryan Holiday explores how calm thinking leads to better decisions, especially in times of uncertainty. He has also encouraged The Selfish Genein Richard Dawkins examines how evolution affects human behavior and decision making. On a completely different topic, Kamath decided to read Most of the time in Isabel Wilkersona Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist whose work examines social conditions and inequality in all societies. Together, these books cover psychology, philosophy, biology, history and human behavior—subjects that go far beyond economics.
Education does not end with a degree
Kamath’s journey should not be read as an antithesis to higher education. Instead, it reveals another truth. Learning doesn’t stop after school or college. Whether someone gets a university degree or not, curiosity remains one of the most important things they can have. Reading gives people access to ideas that the classroom would never reach. It challenges assumptions, sharpens judgment and often changes the way people approach work, relationships and life itself. For students who are preparing for competitive exams or preparing for their careers, that would be an everlasting lesson from Kamath’s story.
Big money isn’t always money
People often ask successful traders about the stocks they bought, the businesses they made or the risks they took. Kamath’s reading list suggests otherwise. The books that inspired him are not books about getting rich fast. Instead, he explores why people make decisions, how emotions affect financial behavior, why people act the way they do and how recognizing the limitations of life can help people focus on what’s really important. Maybe that’s why, despite building a multi-billion dollar company, one of the lessons Kamath talks about the most is not about economics at all. It’s about time. Because while money may grow, time does not. Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available interviews, opinions and statements of Nikhil Kamath. The books listed reflect reading preferences and should not be construed as financial, investment or career advice.